Olivier Giroud: Reviewing the 20 Goals Scored by the Striker this Season

“I enjoy my stats because when you are a striker you think that we are looking for the stats and assists as well. I am OK with my stats but I know the team will need me again for the last [four] Premier League games. So I need to score again and again.” – Olivier Giroud

Down the years, Arsenal has always had its fair share of attacking talent that have wowed the fans, thus epitomizing the club’s attractive style of football. While the likes of Ted Drake and Cliff Bastin scored for fun in the days of old, modern day Arsenal fans were honored to watch Ian Wright decimate opposition defenses before the baton was passed to Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, two of the finest foreign acquisitions the club has ever made.

With the Henry era reaching its climax, Arsenal unleashed goalscoring machines like Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie to the fold and just when we thought that the club it had its predatory clinical finisher in the form of Eduardo da Silva, injury robbed him off his confidence and his career plunged downwards before Shakhtar Donetsk came around and offered him a way out.

With van Persie opting to join Manchester United, Arsene Wenger keep the faith with his new recruit from SC Montpellier Herault and in 91 appearances thus far, the French forward has smashed in 37 goals, with 20 of them coming this season. Despite his frailties and criticisms, scoring 20 goals in your second season at a top-level club like Arsenal is a good return from a center forward. With four games left, I don’t expect Giroud to reach the 30-goal mark but scoring 25 goals could be a realistic target for the French striker.

In a somewhat chronological order, Gooner Daily wants to relive those splendid moments from Giroud that proved that he’s still the club’s alpha-dog in attack.

The home side went off to a flyer when a Rosicky through ball located an unmarked Ox that bore down on goal before picking his spot and locating the red-hot Olivier Giroud. As you would expect from a striker on form, the Frenchman’s one-timed shot eased past Brad Guzan to send the Emirates into raptures.

Arsenal drove a nail in Fenerbahce’s coffin when Kadlec fouled Walcott in the box. Giroud stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way with a well-taken spot kick. That turned out to be his last contribution as he was withdrawn for Lukas Podolski

After some good work in midfield from Aaron Ramsey, the Welshman found Rosicky on the right and the Czech maestro wasted to time in sending Walcott through in behind the Tottenham rearguard. Walcott looked up and fashioned a chance for an onrushing Olivier Giroud whose finish was sheer class. An exquisite deft touch that was more than enough as it skipped past Lloris in goal.

Arsenal’s opening goal arrived in swift fashion as Kieran Gibbs dinked a ball into Ozil’s path. The German schemer saw an onrushing Olivier Giroud with those orbicular eyes of his and he cushioned a first time pass that was finished aplomb with a neat one-timed shot from Giroud.

Arsenal doubled their money when Giroud latched unto a loose pass, teed up Ozil and continued his run into the box. The German schemer used his first touch to give himself some space, went to Napoli’s byline and squared the ball for Giroud. They rest they say, was history.

Following a good Bacary Sagna cross (after a plethora of erratic crosses), Giroud showed his predatory instincts to capitalize on a defensive gaffe between Neven Subotic and Roman Weidenfeller to blast in a free clear-cut chance at goal that leveled the contest before halftime.

Right on the death, Giroud instigated a counter attack with a neat flick to Ramsey that went on a run and waited for the right moment for the Frenchman to arrive at the box. With Giroud in sight, Ramsey gently cushioned the ball above a defender to the path of Giroud that nodded his effort in to put the game beyond doubt.

The match opener arrived in a rather hilarious fashion as Clyne supplied a simple back pass to his goalkeeper and with Giroud closing down on Boruc he decided to invoke the spirits of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi to attempt a futile effort of dribbling Giroud. The Frenchman robbed the Pole and slammed the ball into an unguarded net.

Jose Fonte wanted to exchange jerseys with Mertesacker in the box leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Giroud took responsibility and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it two.

DECEMBER 2013

Goal No. 11 against Newcastle at St. James Park

The match clincher arrived when Giroud latched onto Walcott’s perfectly-timed cross to head the ball home.

While the Gunners were basking in the euphoria of getting the game’s opener, Wilshere robbed Delph off the ball and clipped a diagonal pass to Giroud. The Frenchman shoved the threat Lowton posed and fired a shot past Guzan to make it two goals in less than a minute for the Gunners.

Lacked supply from his teammates in the first half but he helped his team defensively. He also scored a very improvised finish in a difficult situation.

FEBRUARY 2014

Goals No. 15 and 16 against Sunderland at the Emirates

Giroud lingered in the box when he attempted to pass back to his keeper and the Gunners striker clinically slid the ball past the exasperated Vito Mannone in goal.

Santiago Vergini, deputising for the suspended Wes Brown, chose to send a tame back pass to Mannone.His return ball to Mannone, however, was woefully under hit, allowing the predatory Giroud to pounce and roll the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

Giroud came off the bench to score a lovely brace that saw him fire one-timed shots into the net. His first arrived when he timed his run well to hit Sagna’s drilled cross and his second was served on a platter after Ozil’s pass put him clean on goal.

I beg to differ with your opinions at the very top level and if if you’re going to win the league you need a striker that can score at least 25 goals in the premier league alone as well as having other ingredients.

You will also need 2 other attacking players who will score more about 10-15 league goals.

As much as scoring goals it is about having the composure and quality to score decisive goals at crucial moments of the game. such as the 1st goal or a goal that brings you back in a game or the winning goal in a tight game….I am talking about goals that win you games

Even more important for teams who will win the league is having a striker who can also once in awhile score a goal he created himself by some brilliant play

In all his 20 goals show me one that he scored out of nothing or created himself or from some brilliant play..